Social networking is expanding globally; Facebook is looking at extending into the Chinese market by trying to acquire Zhanzuo.com, the largest social network in China.
"Facebook already boasts more than 100,000 users of its English-language network in China and rumours of its local-language entry were fuelled with the company's recent registration in China of the domain facebook.cn," the Times reported.
Mark Zuckerberg founded Facebook while a student at Harvard, and has been looking for a way to tap into the seven million active users in China. He offered $85 million for Zhangzuo which has about seven million active users.
UPDATE: Facebook denies any deal.
Key Themes Behind This Trend
- Global Expansion of Social Networking
- Opportunity for social networking sites to expand globally, possibly through acquisition of local-language social networks such as Zhangzuo in China.
- Localization of Social Networking
- Localization of social networking platforms in different regions presents growth opportunities, such as Facebook's registration of the domain facebook.cn.
- Competition Among Social Networks
- Competition among social networks, especially in emerging markets, provides opportunity for innovation and growth through mergers, acquisitions, and other partnerships.
Where This Applies
- Social Networking
- Social networking platforms have the potential to expand globally and innovate through partnerships, mergers, and acquisitions.
- Technology
- Advancements in technology facilitate the global expansion and localization of social networking platforms, presenting growth opportunities for the industry.
- Digital Marketing
- As social networking expands globally, digital marketing opportunities emerge for companies looking to target specific regions and demographics.
